Fluid treatment device



United States Patent 3,171,476 FLUID TREATMENT DEVICE Pietro J. Laurito, 507 W. 37th t., Austin, Tex. Filed Jan. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 167,840 1 Claim. (Cl. 165-85) The present invention relates to devices for the treatment of fluids and, more particularly, is concerned with the agitation and heat processing of a fluid, such as crude oil.

There are a number of instances when the processing of a fluid requires mixing, or agitation, either with or without simultaneous heat treatment. As an example, United States Patent 1,896,616, to C. C. Gillican, circulates crude pine gum while simultaneously heating the substance to transfer the material from a railroad tank car. In another example, crude oil taken from a producing well is conveyed to a treatment apparatus where the oil is circulated and heated to enhance the removal of basic sediments and water from the crude oil. United States Patent 2,721,928, to I. S. Boydstun, illustrates such an apparatus for processing crude oil.

A number of the prior art devices have suffered from the difficulty of insufiicient fluid circulation for uniform heating. Especially in the processing of crude oil, a significant amount of time was required to complete the processing using existing equipment. Further, the apparatus used was complex and expensive to build.

In most types of apparatuses, a separate power source, such as an electric motor, was required to propel the agitating means. Alternatively, provision was made to utilize the pressure of the fluid to manipulate the agitating means. As an example, the apparatus described in United States Patent 2,103,102 to R. S. Thoresen, illustrates the actuation of the agitating means by passing the fluid through a gear-type drive motor. Although the need for a separate power source was eliminated thereby, the close fitting parts became coated with mineral deposited from the fluid and frequently clogged the motor and reduced the operating efliciency of the treating device.

With the aforementioned limitations of the prior art devices in mind, the present invention has for one of its objects to provide a fluid treatment device that circulates the fluid to such extent that a high degree of intermixing is obtained.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fiuid treatment device that agitates the fluid and simultaneously subjects the fluid to heat processing.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a fluid treatment device having means for agitating the fluid, the agitating apparatus being manipulated by the flow of the fluid delivered to the treating unit and of such construction that deposits and other accumulations on the apparatus for agitating the fluid do not interrupt or render less efficient the operation of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an agitator having a helicoidal blade rotated on a shaft which is driven by a turbine disposed within the vessel containing the blade and receiving the pressurized fluid.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an agitator having a helicoidal blade and turbine having curved vanes disposed to reduce the resistance to travel of the turbine in the fluid filled vessel.

Another object of the invention is to provide an agitator for a fluid treatment device having a helicoidal blade and a flange extending from the outer edge of the blade and having a substantial helicoidal surface facing inwardly towards the main surface of the helicoidal blade to divert fluid leaving the edge of the blade to substantially the direction that the main blade surface forces the fluid.

Other objects of the invention are apparent from a 3,l7l,47 Patented Mar. 2, 1965 reading of the following description, wherein the drawings that are a part of the description consist of:

FIG. 1 is illustrative of a fluid system wherein the present heat treatment device may be incorporated;

PEG. 2 is an elevation view in section of one embodiment of the fluid treatment device according to the present invention, wherein the helicoidal blade is shown with portions cut away to fully illustrate the details of the flange at the blade edge;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the agitator illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein the helicoidal blade is shown in its complete form.

The following description is based on an illustrative example of the use of the present invention for processing crude oil. It must be recognized, however, that the features of the present invention are not limited to use with crude oil and that the individual components, either together or in various combinations, have application to other types of fluid treatment devices.

As an example of the type of system wherein the pres ent invention may be incorporated is shown in FIG. 1. A fluid reservoir 1, such as the producing area of an oil well, delivers the crude oil to a treating unit 2 after receiving additional pressure in the system, if necessary, from a fluid pump 3. After the fluid is processed in the treating unit 2, a fluid storage tank 4 receives the fluid to complete the processing. In the case of processing of crude oil, the treating unit 2 is designed to remove basic sediment and water from the crude oil and generally uses the principles of agitation and heat processing with subsequent removal of the undesired material in the fluid storage tank 4. The specific details of the processing of crude oil according to the system of FIG. 1 are adequately set forth in United States Patent 2,721,928, to I. S. Boydstun.

The illustrative embodiment of the fluid treating unit 2 is shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. The crude oil is processed in the fluid treating unit by simultaneous heating and agitation of the crude oil. The important features of the illustrated device are the maximum circulation and intermixing coupled with the uniform heating that follows from the thorough agitation of the fluid.

The treating unit 2 comprises a cylindrical metal tank 5 closed at each of its ends by walls 6 and 7 and defining an internal chamber 10. Tank 5 is surrounded on all sides by a cover 8 that provides heat insulation to prevent excessive transfer of heat from Within the tank 5 to surrounding regions. The fluid to be processed passes through the fluid pump 3, or may pass directly from fluid reservoir 1 if sufficient line pressure is produced, and enters tank 5 by means of an inlet tube 9 projecting through the tank Wall 6 into the fluid treatment chamber 10.

Without going into the specific structural details of the various components at this time, the fluid entering through inlet 9 is of suflicient pressure to forceably react with turbine 11 and rotate agitator 12, whereby the fluid already in the chamber is circulated and driven towards the turbine 11. The fluid in chamber 10 is heated by source 34 disposed in the bottom portion of the chamber 10 as the fluid is continuously circulated. Eventually, a portion of the fluid leaves the chamber 11 through outlet tube 35 and is carried to the fluid storage tank 4 Where, if the fluid is crude oil, the oil separates from the basic sediment and water as a result of the agitation and heat processing received in the treating unit 2.

With more specific reference to the details of the components and their relationship, the agitator 12 comprises a helicoidal blade 14 fixed along its axis to shaft 15.

3 Shaft is supported from the opposite tank walls 6 and 7 by positioning the shaft ends 16 and 17 for rotational movement in recesses 18 and 19, respectively, formed in the walls'6 and 7. The shaft 15 has its longitudinal axis in general alignment with the axis of the tank 5.;

Adjacent the shaftend 17apertured disk 20 is fixed 'toshaft 15 for rotational movement therewith. The

shaft 15 passes through a central aperture 21in the disk 20, whereby the disk 20 extends radially from't-he shaft. At the opposite shaft end 16, a similar disk 22 has a' centrally located aperture receiving shaft '15 and is fixed to the shaft 15 for rotational-movement therewith.

Between disks 20 and 22 a blade14 havinga generally helicoidalconfiguration extends about'the axis of shaft 15'and is fixed at its ends to the respective disks 20 and 22. As best shown in FIG. 4, the blade 14 extends and 22 and has major face surfaces 23 and 24 and an Within the opening of'ring 27 are disposed a number of semi-circular, curved vanes 28 spaced radially'with respect to disk 22 and fixed to the disk 22 and ring 27.

The vanes 28 have their convex surfaces 30 facing in one direction and the concave surfaces 31 face in the opposite direction around disk 22, as shown in FIG. 3. The disk 22 has radially spaced apertures 29 between the outer surface edge extending continuously between the disks 20 and 22. l When shaft- 15 is rotated in a clock-,

Wise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3, blade surface 23 contacts the fluid in the chamber 1t).and' acts to propel the fluid in the direction of the axis of the shaft toward tank'wall 6. Rotation of shaft15 in the opposite direction results in surface 24 receiving the main contact fluid and forcing thejfluid in the general direction of the axis of shaft 15 towards tank wall 7 It can be easily observed that as the blade surfaces 23 and 24 contact the fluid a large portion of the fluid will be forced in substantially the direction ofthe axis of shaft 15 and as the blade 14 turn the fluid will pass off the outer blade surface edge'25. Thus, while the sur 7 faces'2 3 and 25 serve to propel the fluid to a substantial extent, the fluid tends to receive negligible propelling force at the surface edge 25 of blade 14.

Extending directly from the outer'blade surface edge 25 and continuously along the blade 14 between disks 2t) and 22 is a flange 26 0f substantial overhang. The

flange 26 extends substantially parallel to the axis of V shaft 15 and ina direction determined by the direction of rotation of the shaft, 15. The flange 26 need not extend w parallel to the axis of shaft 15, 'but may form various angles With blade, surface )23, consistent With the fluid propulsion purpose'of the flange 26.1 p I In the illustrated embodiment, flange 26 presents a helicoidal surface 27 facing inward toward blade surface 23 and shaft 15 and *being continuous along the shaft 15 between disks 20 and 22. As the shaft. 15 is ro tated, the fluid that normally would slide off the ends of the blade surface 23 is diverted by surface 27 of flange 26 and is propelled in substantially the same axial direction that the surface 23fpropels the fluid. In this manner, a substantial increase in the circulating effectiveness of the agitator is produced and a greater volume of the fluid is directed to a desired location. .It is apparent that the flange 26 may also be extended to cooperate with blade surface 24, in the case where the blade 14 is the turbine parts.

vanes 28 and the disk center to permit flow of fluid through the disk 22. i

As previously mentioned, the motive power for the agitator-12 is derived from the fluid that is treated by utilizing the fluid pressure to activate turbine 11.; Inlet tube9 is so disposed with respect to turbine 11 that the tube projects a pressurized flow of fluid against the concave surface 31 of successive vanes 28. The inlet tube 9 is disposed to the side of turbine 11 and has its axis generally projecting. forward to intersect with successive vanes 28 as. the turbine llrotates. FIG. 3 illustrates the relative location of the inlet tube 9 with respect to vanes 28 showing the inlet tube 9 in dotted lines. The use of curved vanes 28 has the advantage ofserving as an effective concave target for the fluid beam, and the convex surface 30 moves much easierthana flat paddle type vane through the fluid in chamber 10.

The operation of'the-turbine 11 when crude oil is being processed in treating unit 2 results in a continuous, trouble-free operationirrespective of the fact that the crude oil contains a number of minerals that generally form a deposit on the working surfaces of. the turbine compoments. That is to say, there are no critical, narrow restrictions that may be clogged up due to deposits forming on After chamber 10 is substantially filled, the fluid is removed through outlet tube 35 disposed in the upper portion of the chamber'lt), above shaft 15 and located adjacent tank wall 7. It can, be seen that. the movement of the fluid in the chamber 10 when the turbine is rotated by the pressurized fluid beam entering through inlet tube 9 is generally in the direction of the axis of the shaft 15 towards the end of the chamber where the inlet tube 9 and turbine 11 are located. The blade surface 23 and flange surface 27 propel a substantial portion of the fluidv in the last mentioned direction, away fromthe outlet tube 14, so

that the fluid is recirculated within the chamber 10 a rotated alternately in both, directions, ,or rotated only in the direction where blade surface 24 is effective, The amount of extension, or overhang of flange 26, varies with the size of the chamber 10 and the type of fluid involved, but the dimension is sufficiently large to provide a high degree of diversion for the fluid in. cooperation with the adjacent blade surface.

The rotational movement, of shaft 15 is effected by turbine 11, driven by the" pressurized fluid entering through inlettube 9, as explained previously. Turbine 11 is located adjacent, shaft, end 16 and comprises as one of its elements the disk 22 previously described as fixed to the shaft 15. The disk 22 has a face- 36 on the opposite side from the blade 14, and a rin'g'27 is" disposed coaxially with respect to the disk 22 and shaft 15 and is fixed to disk face 36 by welding, or other suitabletechnigues,:along an outer annular edge of the ring 27.

'berthrough outlet tub'e. 35.

number oftimes before'being withdraw from the chant Thus, the action of the fluid entering'the chamber and the movement of the fluid caused ,by'thef agitator 12Iare suchas to furnisha high degree of intermixing and' fluid agitation before the fluid is withdrawn from the'treating unit 2.. In connection with the processing of crudeoil, the increased. agitation, as will be mentioned further on, makes possible a more thorough and uniform heating and mixing of the. crude oil and greatly enhances the ability of the treating unit 2 to prepare the crude oil for separation of the basic sediments and'water in the fluid storage tank'4.

In the lower portion of chamber 10 below agitator 12' "and closely adjacent thebottorn of tank 5, but spaced therefrom, is a heat source 34 comprising heating elements 13, one extending from each of the tank walls 6 and 7. The heating elements 13 may take a number of forms and shapes. As 'an example, the heating element 13 may comprise a resistance wire suitably treated for use in con-' nection with whatever fluid 'i's'in the chamber and extending outward into the chamber and forming a spiral evolution and thereafter returning to the respective'tank wall to an electrical, connector 32. "The connector 32 supports the heating element 13 at one end, the other end of heating element 13 extending outward, substantially'parallel to, but spaced-from, agitator-Hand the bottom of tank 5. Other types of heat sources may be used for the treating unit2, such as a number of pipes carrying steam, or induction heaters, depending on the type of fluid that is being processed and the degree of temperature that is desired. T hefluid passes. about the resistance element 13 (S as the agitator 12 circulates the fluid in the chamber and a greater amount of the fluid is heated to an elevated temperature than could be accomplished if the agitator 12 or the particular relationship of the fluid driven turbine 11 and the relative spacing of the outlet 14- and inlet tube 9 were not present.

The simultaneous agitation and heat treatment of the fluid, such as where crude oil is being processed, is accomplished with the present invention to the point where the fluid withdrawn from the storage unit 4 has substantially zero basic sediment and water content. The treating unit performs the necessary agitation and heat processing in a considerably reduced time period and with the far better results than have been experienced in the past.

While one illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed and described for purposes of the patent application, other arrangements and combinations of the features set forth herein are apparent to one skilled in the art after reviewing the above description. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be restricted in any way to the specific embodiment disclosed herein, and the scope of the invention is to be derived from the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A device for treating viscous fluids comprising,

a vessel for containing said fluid;

a shaft extending between the sides of said vessel and mounted for rotational movement;

a helicoidal blade carried by said shaft to cause circulation of said fluid toward one side of said vessel and away from the opposite side;

a turbine disposed in said vessel and coupled to said shaft to rotate the shaft upon the application of a fluid under pressure;

inlet means disposed adjacent said turbine to project said pressurized fluid against said turbine and thereby cause rotational movement of the shaft and blade; outlet means for Withdrawing said fluid from said vessel; means for heating said fluid in said vessel,

said heating means comprising a heat source disposed adjacent the bottom of said vessel; said shaft being disposed above said heat source; said inlet and outlet means being disposed above said shaft and on opposite sides of said vessel, whereby said fluid in said vessel is continuously circulated toward said inlet means and away from said outlet means and the fluid is uniformly heated and agitated; and means fixed to the outer edge of said blade surface to divert fluid leaving the blade at the outer edge to substantially the direction that the blade propels the fluid when rotated by the pressurized fluid.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,276,935 8/18 Leary 85 1,858,796 5/32 Wilcoxson 2599 1,896,616 2/33 Gillican 165109 1,906,632 5/33 Langberg et al 16585 2,200,787 5/40 Coy 165176 2,627,394 2/53 Spencer 2599 CHARLES SUKALO, Primary Examiner.

FREDERICK L. MATTESON, IR., Examiner. 

